Impact-activated illuminating leg wrap

ABSTRACT

An impact-activated illuminating leg wrap is configured to provide light on a moving animal. The impact-activated illuminating leg wrap includes a first layer joined to a second layer wherein the second layer further comprises a hook fastener. An upper strap is fixed to the loop fastener and attached to an upper strap loop fastener. The upper strap is adapted to be wrapped around a leg of an animal forming a rear leg wrap concave contour. An upper reflective strap is attached to the hook fastener and perforated with a series of upper reflective strap perforations. A series of upper reflective strap light emitting diodes is inserted through the series of upper reflective strap perforations and connected to the upper reflective strap. A first microcontroller is attached to the second layer with a first elastic strap.

BACKGROUND

The embodiments herein relate generally to an impact-activatedilluminating leg wrap for animals, especially horses. The wrap when puton the animal alerts others of its location and provides direction oftravel to a distant observer in dark.

Prior to embodiments of the disclosed invention either utilized energyinefficient lighting system or depended on reflected light, useful onlyfor short distances visibility.

SUMMARY

An impact-activated illuminating leg wrap is configured to provide lighton a moving animal. The impact-activated illuminating leg wrap includesa first layer joined to a second layer wherein the second layer furthercomprises a hook fastener. An upper strap is fixed to the loop fastenerand attached to an upper strap loop fastener. The upper strap is adaptedto be wrapped around a leg of an animal forming a rear leg wrap concavecontour. An upper reflective strap is attached to the hook fastener andperforated with a series of upper reflective strap perforations. Aseries of upper reflective strap light emitting diodes is insertedthrough the series of upper reflective strap perforations and connectedto the upper reflective strap. A first microcontroller is attached tothe second layer with a first elastic strap. The first microcontrollerfurther comprises an accelerometer and a battery and is configured withinstructions to: receive input from the accelerometer about movement.Then, to close a circuit between the battery and the series of upperreflective strap light emitting diodes when the accelerometer detectsmovement in a direction of the rear leg wrap concave contour.

In some embodiments, a lower strap is fixed to the loop fastener andattached to a lower strap loop fastener; wherein the lower strap isadapted to be wrapped around a leg of an animal forming a rear leg wrapconcave contour. A lower reflective strap is attached to the hookfastener and perforated with a series of lower reflective strapperforations. A series of lower reflective strap light emitting diodesare inserted through the series of lower reflective strap perforationsand connected to the lower reflective strap. A second microcontroller isattached to the second layer with a first elastic strap and furthercommunicatively coupled to the series of lower reflective strap lightemitting diodes.

In some embodiments, a central strap is attached to the second layer.The central strap is further attached to a central strap loop fastener.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE FIGURES

The detailed description of some embodiments of the invention is madebelow with reference to the accompanying figures, wherein like numeralsrepresent corresponding parts of the figures.

FIG. 1 shows a perspective view of embodiment of the present inventionin use;

FIG. 2 shows a perspective view of an embodiment of the invention;

FIG. 3 shows an exploded view of an embodiment of the invention;

FIG. 4 shows a section view of an embodiment of the invention taken fromline 4-4 in FIG. 1;

FIG. 5 shows a section view of an embodiment of the invention taken fromline 5-5 in FIG. 1;

FIG. 6 shows a front view of an embodiment of the invention; and

FIG. 7 is a side view of an embodiment of the invention

FIG. 7A shows the anatomy of an exemplary horse.

FIG. 7B shows the anatomy of an exemplary horse.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF CERTAIN EMBODIMENTS

Turning first to FIGS. 7A and 7B, with regard to the gross anatomy ofthe horse, below the knee K is cannon bone C (sometimes called the thirdmetacarpal that is) adjacent to split bones S (which include the secondor medial and fourth or lateral metacarpals). Cannon bone C terminatesin the sesamoid bones P which form the fetlock joint F with the longpastern L (also called the proximal phalanx). The fetlock joint F isconnected to the knee with the deep digital flexor tendon DD, thesuperficial digital flexor tendon SD, the inferior cheek ligament IC andthe suspensory ligament SL. Turning to FIG. 7A, this application definesa leg rear concave contour R as having the shape of the shape of thedeep digital flexor tendon DD, the superficial digital flexor tendon SD,the inferior cheek ligament IC and the suspensory ligament SL, that isextending from the Fetlock joint F forward to the cannon bone C and therearward toward the knee K. This application defines the leg hourglasscontours H as the shape of the splint bones S extending inward and thenthe cannon bone extending outward moving upward to downward on thehorse's leg.

With that anatomy in mind, turning to FIG. 1, horse E is shown wearingimpact-activated illuminating leg wrap 10. Impact-activated illuminatingleg wrap 10 further comprises leg wrap hourglass contours 12A, 12B whichreflect the shape of leg hourglass contours H. Impact-activatedilluminating leg wrap 10 further comprises rear leg wrap concave contour16, which reflects the shape of leg rear concave contour R.

Turning to FIGS. 2-7, impact-activated illuminating leg wrap 10 furthercomprises edging 20. Edging 20 is wrapped around first layer 22. Firstlayer 22 can be made from a water proof fabric. First layer 22 is joinedto second layer 24. Second layer 24 further comprises hook fastener 26.

Second layer 24 is joined to upper strap 28. Upper strap 28 is attachedto upper strap loop fastener 30. Second layer 24 is joined to upperreflective strap 32. Upper reflective strap 32 is perforated with aseries of upper reflective strap perforations 34A, 34B, 34C, 34D and34E. A series of upper reflective strap light emitting diodes 36A, 36B,36C, 36D and 36E are joined inserted through the series of upperreflective strap perforations 34A, 34B, 34C, 34D and 34E and connectedto upper reflective strap 32.

Second layer 24 is further attached to first microcontroller 38 withfirst elastic strap 40. First microcontroller 38 further comprises anaccelerometer and a battery and is configured with instructions tocloses a circuit between the batter and the series of upper reflectivestrap light emitting diodes 36A, 36B, 36C, 36D and 36E with first wire64 when the accelerometer detects movement in the direction of the rearleg wrap concave contour 16 or contrary to that direction.

Second layer 24 is joined to lower reflective strap 42. Lower reflectivestrap 42 is perforated with a series of lower reflective strapperforations 44A, 44B, 44C, 44D and 44E. A series of lower reflectivestrap light emitting diodes 46A, 46B, 46C, 46D and 46E are joinedinserted through the series of lower reflective strap perforations 44A,44B, 44C, 44D and 44E and connected to lower reflective strap 42. Secondlayer 24 is further attached central strap 52. Central strap 52 isfurther attached to central strap loop fastener 48.

Second layer 24 is further attached to second microcontroller 54 withsecond elastic strap 56. Second microcontroller 54 further comprises anaccelerometer and a battery and is configured with instructions tocloses a circuit between the battery and the series of lower reflectivestrap light emitting diodes 46A, 46B, 46C, 46D and 46E with second wire66 when the accelerometer detects movement in the direction of the rearleg wrap concave contour 16 or contrary to that direction. Second layer24 is further attached lower strap 58. Lower strap 58 is furtherattached to lower strap loop fastener 60. Turning to FIG. 6, stitching62 can be used to hold many of these components together.

As used in this application, the term “a” or “an” means “at least one”or “one or more.”

As used in this application, the term “about” or “approximately” refersto a range of values within plus or minus 10% of the specified number.

As used in this application, the term “substantially” means that theactual value is within about 10% of the actual desired value,particularly within about 5% of the actual desired value and especiallywithin about 1% of the actual desired value of any variable, element orlimit set forth herein.

All references throughout this application, for example patent documentsincluding issued or granted patents or equivalents, patent applicationpublications, and non-patent literature documents or other sourcematerial, are hereby incorporated by reference herein in theirentireties, as though individually incorporated by reference, to theextent each reference is at least partially not inconsistent with thedisclosure in the present application (for example, a reference that ispartially inconsistent is incorporated by reference except for thepartially inconsistent portion of the reference).

A portion of the disclosure of this patent document contains materialwhich is subject to copyright protection. The copyright owner has noobjection to the facsimile reproduction by anyone of the patent documentor the patent disclosure, as it appears in the Patent and TrademarkOffice patent file or records, but otherwise reserves all copyrightrights whatsoever.

Any element in a claim that does not explicitly state “means for”performing a specified function, or “step for” performing a specifiedfunction, is not to be interpreted as a “means” or “step” clause asspecified in 35 U.S.C. § 112, ¶6. In particular, any use of “step of” inthe claims is not intended to invoke the provision of 35 U.S.C. § 112,¶6.

Persons of ordinary skill in the art may appreciate that numerous designconfigurations may be possible to enjoy the functional benefits of theinventive systems. Thus, given the wide variety of configurations andarrangements of embodiments of the present invention the scope of theinvention is reflected by the breadth of the claims below rather thannarrowed by the embodiments described above.

What is claimed is:
 1. An impact-activated illuminating leg wrap,configured to provide light on a moving animal; impact-activatedilluminating leg wrap comprising: a first layer joined to a second layerwherein the second layer further comprises a hook fastener; edgingwrapped around the first layer creating a raised periphery around thefirst layer; an upper strap, fixed to the loop fastener and attached toan upper strap loop fastener; wherein the upper strap is adapted to bewrapped around a leg of an animal forming a rear leg wrap concavecontour; an upper reflective strap, attached to the hook fastener andperforated with a series of upper reflective strap perforations; aseries of upper reflective strap light emitting diodes, inserted throughthe series of upper reflective strap perforations and connected to theupper reflective strap; a first microcontroller, attached to the secondlayer with a first elastic strap; wherein the first microcontrollerfurther comprises an accelerometer and a battery and is configured withinstructions to: receive input from the accelerometer about movement;and close a circuit between the battery and the series of upperreflective strap light emitting diodes when the accelerometer detectsmovement in a direction of the rear leg wrap concave contour.
 2. Theimpact-activated illuminating leg wrap of claim 1, further comprising: alower strap, fixed to the loop fastener and attached to an lower straploop fastener; wherein the lower strap is adapted to be wrapped around aleg of an animal forming a rear leg wrap concave contour; a lowerreflective strap, attached to the hook fastener and perforated with aseries of lower reflective strap perforations; a series of lowerreflective strap light emitting diodes, inserted through the series oflower reflective strap perforations and connected to the lowerreflective strap; a second microcontroller, attached to the second layerwith a first elastic strap and further communicatively coupled to theseries of lower reflective strap light emitting diodes.
 3. Theimpact-activated illuminating leg wrap of claim 2, further comprising acentral strap, attached to the second layer and further attached to acentral strap loop fastener.